"New Shadow Style · Simple Domain."
A faint blue halo, invisible to the naked eye, appeared beneath Kusakabe Atsuya's feet.
'His Aura has changed. Was a proactive attack indeed the correct choice?'
Sasaki Kojiro's lips curved into a smile after seeing Kusakabe Atsuya's transformation.
This legendary Sword Saint of the island nation was not worried that his opponent had become more troublesome; instead, he was immensely looking forward to the upcoming battle.
"A sword style that can be passed down for a thousand years, let me witness it."
With that, Sasaki Kojiro stepped into Kusakabe Atsuya's attack range, holding his clothes-drying pole.
"I won't disappoint you, Shinkage-ryu · Iai Draw!"
This was a battle for the Legacy of the style, and Kusakabe Atsuya could not allow himself to be overwhelmed in Aura.
The Simple Domain's automatic counter-attack was activated.
Kusakabe Atsuya swung his katana at Sasaki Kojiro with extreme speed.
Clang.
Facing Kusakabe Atsuya's iai draw from lower-left to upper-right, Sasaki Kojiro swung his clothes-drying pole upwards, its tip pointing to the ground, deflecting Kusakabe Atsuya's katana upwards.
Kusakabe Atsuya's left hand released the scabbard and gripped the hilt from above.
Then, he stepped forward, bringing the katana, which had been deflected upwards, down in a slash from top to bottom.
Sasaki Kojiro flicked his wrist, slashing down with the clothes-drying pole from above with a single hand.
Clang!
The two katana collided.
After a brief stalemate, both sides exerted force simultaneously, then each retreated one step.
The first round of engagement between the two sides temporarily concluded.
'His speed is very fast, and his strength is also great.'
Kusakabe Atsuya came to a conclusion in his mind.
'If we clash head-on, I will lose.'
"Shinkage-ryu · Iai · Evening Moon."
Iai · Evening Moon is an advanced Move of Iai · Iai Draw.
A faster attack surged towards Sasaki Kojiro.
Sasaki Kojiro responded with an equally fast Move.
Clang, clang, clang.
The katana in their hands continuously collided, and crisp sounds echoed throughout the entire Dao hall.
"So fast."
"I can't see it at all."
"As expected of Mr. Kusakabe, the strongest of this generation's Shinkage-ryu."
The surrounding whispers gradually began to rise.
Many newly inducted Disciples, including Miwa Kasumi, who was still in junior high, could not clearly see the clash between the two in the arena.
All they could do was guess the development of the situation on the field based on the occasional momentary pauses.
However, all those who could understand the clash between the two in the arena fell silent.
They could see that Kusakabe Atsuya was constantly accelerating, and the sword Moves of Shinkage-ryu were being executed one after another.
But Sasaki Kojiro blocked all the attacks; not a single one landed on him.
There was a clear disparity in their swordsmanship levels.
"Shinkage-ryu · New Moon."
The last day of each lunar month is called the New Moon day.
And the moon on this day is also called the New Moon.
The moon on this day is very small, obscure and invisible.
Kusakabe Atsuya, finding an opportunity amidst his continuous offense, used this extremely difficult-to-detect Move.
The katana slashed from the side-rear towards Sasaki Kojiro, attempting to Breakthrough Sasaki Kojiro's defense with it.
Clang.
"What!"
Kusakabe Atsuya looked in surprise at the clothes-drying pole blocking his katana.
Sasaki Kojiro did not turn around.
Instead, he passed his long katana under his armpit, blocking the subtle strike.
"Shinkage-ryu · Waning Moon."
Since the sneak attack failed, he would use a stronger attack to Breakthrough the opponent's defense line.
'The opponent doesn't have time to turn around now; this strike will hit!'
"A good choice, but..."
Clang.
Sasaki Kojiro's clothes-drying pole once again blocked Kusakabe Atsuya's attack.
'I had a faint suspicion earlier, but can this guy really swing his katana from any angle?'
Kusakabe Atsuya looked at the clothes-drying pole that had once again blocked his attack with a solemn face, his heart filled with helplessness.
Swish.
Sasaki Kojiro slashed with his long katana, then turned around to face Kusakabe Atsuya directly again.
"Beautiful attack, but unfortunately useless against me."
"Seriously, do you have eyes in the back of your head?"
Kusakabe Atsuya took up his stance again.
"This is Wisdom Eye. In your words, it's a danger prediction ability based on innate talent, like premonition or a sixth sense."
In reality, it was far more than that.
While Sasaki Kojiro possessed Wisdom Eye, he also had the ability to discern an opponent's weapon and fighting style through just a few clashes.
Sasaki Kojiro's Wisdom Eye was a rare existence even among Servants.
In the recent clashes, Sasaki Kojiro had already discerned Kusakabe Atsuya's fighting style.
Kusakabe Atsuya's fighting style was different from that of a pure swordsman.
Because his main enemies were Cursed Spirits, he did not emphasize spiritual aspects like Bushido, unlike some swordsmen.
Instead, his primary objective was to eliminate the enemy.
Through the previous clashes, Sasaki Kojiro had also determined Kusakabe Atsuya's Moves and main variations.
His opening Moves were mainly Iai.
The Moves during combat imitated the changes in moon phases.
Evening Moon, Waning Moon, Full Moon, New Moon... This was a style that integrated the changes of moon phases into swordsmanship.
"As expected of the legendary Sword Saint, then I will also show my true abilities."
Kusakabe Atsuya once again unfurled his Shinkage-ryu · Simple Domain.
"It should be so."
Sasaki Kojiro revealed a satisfied smile.
In the more than a year since he was summoned, Kusakabe Atsuya was the first Jujutsu Sorcerer he had encountered with excellent swordsmanship.
He was greatly looking forward to this spar.
Raising his clothes-drying pole, this time Sasaki Kojiro no longer maintained that relaxed posture.
Instead, he seriously launched an attack towards Kusakabe Atsuya.
However, this time, it was Kusakabe Atsuya who made the first Move.
The range of the Simple Domain was expanded by Kusakabe Atsuya.
The Shinkage-ryu · Simple Domain, which originally required luring the enemy to attack first before counter-attacking, began to automatically intercept all objects entering its Domain.
This was the Simple Domain developed by Kusakabe Atsuya, the representative figure of Shinkage-ryu, after improving the Shinkage-ryu · Simple Domain to make it his own.
"Interesting!"
Watching the attacks coming from all directions, Sasaki Kojiro excitedly brandished his clothes-drying pole.
Pshh.
A small tear appeared on Sasaki Kojiro's kimono.
Kusakabe Atsuya's attack finally broke through Sasaki Kojiro's defense.
"Not enough!"
Sasaki Kojiro continuously swung his clothes-drying pole, intercepting countless attacks.
Sasaki Kojiro thus pushed through the Shinkage-ryu · Simple Domain and rushed to Kusakabe Atsuya's front.
"Inhale, exhale ~"
Kusakabe Atsuya took a deep breath, then looked at Sasaki Kojiro with extreme concentration.
"A full-power strike, then I will also give my all."
"Shinkage-ryu · Full Moon."
Kusakabe Atsuya swung the katana in his hand with all his might, and a full moon appeared in the Dao hall.
"Secret Sword · Swallow Reversal."
Although only one sword was swung, the blade simultaneously approached Kusakabe Atsuya from three directions.
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"